Just as last week ended things on a somber note for Alphas.

And "Life After Death" continued that theme with muted dialogue and plenty of mourning.

But the results of the episode were mixed. While it did have the desired emotional consequences necessary for the plot, at times things felt purposely paused, and they weren’t pauses used to process Dani’s death, but rather just to fill time. Combine those dragged-down elements with stories that were just out of place, and Alphas completely fumbled the ball.

So while I can appreciate the idea of Dr. Rosen grieving for Dani in her apartment, his excursion back there felt unnecessary to the plot. There isn't a sense of closure from it, and there isn't a sense of Dr. Rosen really going through any mourning process from it. In fact, it felt like his mourning process was finished the minute he found out Dani was the mole the last time he was at her apartment.

Dr. Rosen’s decision, however, to make a pact with Cameron to do what is necessary to ensure Stanton Parrish is killed versus captured is much more emotionally gratifying because it further sets up the arc Rosen’s been journeying down this season. His emotional weight in that scene had no real reliance on being in Dani’s apartment prior, and that time could have been better used to further flesh out his debriefings with the government.

Speaking of low points, I’m still trying to figure out what the point of the baby storyline with Gary is all about. The symbolism is nice, and who doesn’t want to be reminded that although life is taken away there’s always another life coming into the world? And I can see how this might be seen as humanizing Gary, yet, if that’s the case, that’s not really necessary because Gary is both well developed and very humanized.

So, while the baby is fun it doesn’t fit in with the show. At all.

Rachel and John’s entire sex adventure was also painful to watch at times. I love their relationship, and I love the slow build that is going on between them; I see where Rachel is coming from and their desire to take their relationship to the next level after feeling the aftershocks of Dani’s death... but not like this. Rachel’s complete zoning out during it didn’t make much sense, and her ability continually confuses. Sometimes her senses are in over drive and she can’t control them, and sometimes she’s in complete control of them. There’s no slow and steady progression with them at all.

Two more thoughts:

1. At least Bill and his wife now have a chance at a family with the little guy.
2. Nina and Bill’s fight against the baby’s faux parents was pretty awesome, as was Nina’s quote to the fauxmother: Go to sleep, bitch. | permalink